WILDLIFE: Thursday 14 May 2026; Visit to Hanningfield Reservoir
Good afternoon everyone,
As you know we decided to change our visit from Dagnam Park to Hanningfield Reservoir due to the fact rain was threatened all day! Just before we arrived we had to stop the car to let two Greylag geese cross the road with their babies, ahh! We started at the visitor centre with a drink and snack and then proceeded to walk round to the cafe which is about 45 minutes popping into one of the hides on our way. It was still dry and sun shining. We heard and saw plenty on the way and had to avoid hanging caterpillars which were occupying a tree full of webs looking like Miss Havisham's house. There were hundreds hanging on threads. They were Ermine moth and Spinner Ermine moth caterpillars.
We had a nice lunch but had to sit outside as there were no spaces inside. We sat under a canopy so if it rained we would not get wet. On our way back we moved a bit quicker as the clouds were gathering. We couldn't believe our luck when as we stepped in to the visitor centre the torrents fell along with thunder and lightning, so we only got wet walking back to the car.. Five minutes up the road though it was white everywhere with sleet!! It is May.
Creatures seen:- Male & female tufted ducks, Hebrew Character moth caterpillar, Greylag Geese & goslings, Gt. Crested Grebes, Pochard flying, Magpie, 2 Mute Swans, a Swift in flight, Coots, Robin, Ducklings, Squirrels, Canada Geese, Cormorant, Jackdaws, Fungus unidentified, Dogwood in flower, Gt Stitchwort, Hawthorn in flower, Elderberries, Brown Speckled Wood butterfly, Wild Rose, Long Tailed Tits feasting on the Ermine caterpillars, Dagger fly on Dogwood flower and a Red Headed Cardinal beetle.
Heard:- Chaffinch, Black Cap, Wren, Chiff Chaff, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Gt Tits,
Our next meeting is 11th June which is also the lunch for us contacts. I wasn't going as it is a Wildlife day but several of you will be attending anyway, so I might change my mind. Please watch this space.
Best wishes Janet
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